Origin of the name ANNAS.
Etymology of the
name ANNAS.
Meaning of the baby name ANNAS.

ANNAS (Ἄννας). The
Greek form of Hebrew Chanan,
biblical Hanan
(q.v.), meaning "compassionate, merciful." It is an
abbreviated form of Ananias
(Hananiah).

A Jew,
stated by St. Luke to have been high priest, as was Caiaphas, in the
year when John the Baptist began his ministry (Luke III. 2), it is
thought about 26 A.D. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, when
our Lord was crucified, and though Caiaphas was the high priest, yet
Annas was so important a personage that it was to him Jesus was taken
first on His arrest (John xviii. 13). After examining his
prisoner, Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas (24). When Peter and
John were subsequently arrested, Annas was again called by St. Luke the
high priest (Acts iv. 6). Annas is named by Josephus Ananus, which
is nearer the Hebrew Hananiah than Annas is (see etymology). He
was appointed about A.D. 8, by Quirinius [CYRENIUS],
and deposed by Valerius Gratus about A.D. 19. Caiaphas was the
real high priest from about A.D. 26. It was, therefore, by
courtesy, rather than of right, that Annas received the title (Joseph. Antiq.
XVIII. ii. § 1, 2). [CAIAPHAS.]
(The Sunday School Teacher's Bible Manual, Hunter, 1894).